Description: This anemone
has no acontia,
no tubercles
or major adherent material on the column.
Neither
oral disk
nor
pedal disk
have radiating lines. There may be darker pigmented lines between
the tentacles (as seen above), associated with the internal mesenteries.
Broods young internally. Mid- to high intertidal, mostly in caves
and surge channels shaded by logs. May be drab green, brick red,
dark orange, or deep mustard; sometimes with lighter or darker spots.
Note: Epiactis fernaldi has only been observed in the San Juan Archipelago.
The only individuals in the sole known remaining population (photo) are
2 cm or less in diameter.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species:
Other local Epiactis species usually have radiating white lines
on the oral disk
and dark vertical lines on the column.
Small Epiactis prolifera may
look similar especially when closed (photo),
but that species often has small young along its external column
which are not seen in this species which broods internally.

References:

Fautin, Daphne G and Chia, Fu-Shiang, 1986. Revision of sea anemone
genus Epiactis (Coelenterata: Actiniaria) on the Pacific coast of
North America, with descriptions of two new brooding species. Canadian
Journal of Zoology 64:8 1665-1674

These are several individuals from the sole known remaining population
of Epiactis fernaldi, on the west coast of San Juan Island.
Their diameters are from about 1 to 1.5 cm. They are found in
a shaded rock cleft and sea cave.
Photo by Dave Cowles, identification by Lisbeth Francis.

This side view of a tiny individual (diameter approx. 0.5 cm) shows
the lack of lines on the side of the column.
The base of the tentacles is usually white.
Photo by Dave Cowles, identification by Lisbeth Francis.

Authors and Editors of Page:Dave Cowles (2005): Created original page
Edited 2006